Prolonged storage-induced changes in haematology parameters referred for testing.

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Clinical Pathology
• Laboratory Medicine

Background:

• Delayed analysis of hematological disorders from remote labs impacts patient care.
• Evaluating sample stability is crucial for accurate remote diagnostics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the stability of full blood count (FBC), differential count (DIFF), reticulocyte, and peripheral blood smear (PBS) morphology.
• To determine optimal storage conditions for EDTA-preserved blood samples.

Main Methods:

• Analyzed 40 EDTA blood samples (25% abnormal) on an ADVIA® 120 analyser.
• Stored samples at room temperature (RT) and 4°C–8°C.
• Performed analyses at various intervals up to 7 days for refrigerated samples and 48 hours for RT samples.

Main Results:

• FBC and some DIFF parameters remained stable up to 48 hours at RT.
• Platelets and white cell counts showed limited stability at RT (12 and 36 hours, respectively).
• Refrigeration (4°C–8°C) improved stability for mean cell volume and reticulocytes but decreased DIFF parameter stability; PBS morphology degraded within 12 hours.

Conclusions:

• EDTA blood samples are suitable for FBC and reticulocyte analysis on ADVIA® 120 after 7-day storage at 4°C–8°C.
• Refrigerated storage does not preserve DIFF or PBS morphology.
• Optimized storage protocols are needed for different hematological parameters.